(1) In addition to those forms of unprofessional conduct defined in 37-1-316, MCA, the following is unprofessional conduct for a licensee or license applicant under Title 37, chapter 3, MCA:

(a) conviction, including conviction following a plea of nolo contendere, of an offense involving moral turpitude, whether misdemeanor or felony, and whether or not an appeal is pending;

(b) fraud, misrepresentation, deception, or concealment of a material fact in applying for or securing a license or license renewal, or in taking an examination required for licensure. As used herein, "material" means any false or misleading statement or information;

(c) conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public;

(d) making a false or misleading statement regarding the licensee's skill or the effectiveness or value of the medicine, treatment, or remedy prescribed by the licensee or at the licensee's direction in the treatment of a disease or other condition of the body or mind;

(e) resorting to fraud, misrepresentation, or deception in the examination or treatment of a person; or in billing, giving, or receiving a fee related to professional services; or reporting to a person, company, institution, or organization, including fraud, misrepresentation, or deception with regard to a claim for benefits under Title 39, chapter 71 or 72, MCA;

(f) use of a false, fraudulent, or deceptive statement in any document connected with the practice of medicine;

(g) having been subject to disciplinary action of another state or jurisdiction against a license or other authorization to practice medicine, based upon acts or conduct by the licensee similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action under Title 37, chapter 3, MCA, or these rules. A certified copy of the record of the action taken by the other state or jurisdiction is evidence of unprofessional conduct;

(h) willful disobedience of a rule adopted by the board, or an order of the board, regarding evaluation or enforcement of discipline of a licensee;

(i) habitual intemperance or excessive use of an addictive drug, alcohol, or any other substance to the extent that the use impairs the user physically or mentally;

(j) failing to furnish to the board or its investigators or representatives information legally requested by the board;

(k) failing to cooperate with a lawful investigation conducted by the board;

(l) failing to report to the board any adverse judgment, settlement, or award arising from a medical liability claim or other unprofessional conduct;

(m) obtaining a fee or other compensation, either directly or indirectly, by the misrepresentation that a manifestly incurable disease, injury, or condition of a person can be cured;

(n) abusive billing practices;

(o) commission of an act of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, or sexual exploitation, whether or not related to the licensee's practice of medicine. The use of or the failure to use a chaperone for patient encounters in which the potential for sexual exploitation exists shall be considered in evaluating complaints of sexual exploitation related to the licensee's practice of medicine;

(p) administering, dispensing, prescribing, or ordering a controlled substance as defined by the federal Food and Drug Administration or successors, otherwise than in the course of legitimate or reputable professional practice;

(q) conviction or violation of a federal or state law regulating the possession, distribution, or use of a controlled substance as defined by the federal Food and Drug Administration or successors, whether or not an appeal is pending;

(r) testifying in court on a contingency basis;

(s) conspiring to misrepresent or willfully misrepresenting medical conditions improperly to increase or decrease a settlement, award, verdict, or judgment;

(t) except as provided in this subsection, practicing medicine as the partner, agent, or employee of, or in joint venture with, a person who does not hold a license to practice medicine within this state; however, this does not prohibit:

(i) the incorporation of an individual licensee or group of licensees as a professional service corporation under Title 35, chapter 4, MCA;

(ii) a single consultation with or a single treatment by a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery in another state or territory of the United States or a foreign country;

(iii) the organization of a professional limited liability company under Title 35, chapter 8, MCA, for the providing of professional services as defined in Title 35, chapter 8, MCA; or

(iv) practicing medicine as the partner, agent, or employee of, or in joint venture with, a hospital, medical assistance facility, or other licensed health care provider; however,

(A) the partnership, agency, employment, or joint venture must be evidenced by a written agreement containing language to the effect that the relationship created by the agreement may not affect the exercise of the physician's independent judgment in the practice of medicine; and

(B) the physician's independent judgment in the practice of medicine must in fact be unaffected by the relationship; and

(C) the physician may not be required to refer any patient to a particular provider or supplier or take any other action that the physician determines not to be in the patient's best interest;

(u) failing to transfer pertinent and necessary medical records to another licensed health care provider, the patient, or the patient's representative when requested to do so by the patient or the patient's legally designated representative;

(v) failing to comply with an agreement the licensee has entered into with the program established by the board under 37-3-203, MCA;

(w) failing, as a medical director, to supervise, appropriately direct, and train emergency medical technicians (EMTs) practicing under the licensee's supervision, according to scope of practice and current board-approved USDOT curriculum standards, including revisions and board-approved statewide protocols for patient care;

(x) failing to supervise, manage, appropriately delegate, and train medical assistants under the licensee's supervision, according to scope of practice and generally accepted standards of practice;

(y) failing to supervise, appropriately delegate, and train physician assistants-certified practicing under the licensee's supervision, according to board-approved utilization plans, scope of practice, and generally accepted standards of practice;

(z) failing to supervise and appropriately train residents as defined in 37-3-305, MCA, practicing under the licensee's supervision, according to scope of practice and generally accepted standards of practice;

(aa) having voluntarily relinquished or surrendered a license or privileges, or having withdrawn an application for licensure or privileges, while under investigation or prior to the granting or denial of an application in this state, or in another state or jurisdiction;

(ab) terminating an existing relationship with a patient, for whatever reason, without verifiable written notice prior to terminating the relationship, and sufficiently far in advance to allow other medical care to be secured;

(ac) failing to make appropriate arrangements to transfer and place patient medical records in a secure location preceding, during, or following a change in a practice location; sale of practice; or termination of a patient relationship or a medical practice; or knowingly breaching the confidentiality of patient medical records with an individual unauthorized to receive medical records; or

(ad) any other act, whether specifically enumerated or not, that in fact constitutes unprofessional conduct.